The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have dug deep against the inform Wyong Roos, enabling them to silence one of the competition favourites with both teams giving spectators more than enough to cheer about.
As the Bulldogs walked away from Round 3 with their tails between their legs after suffering a deflating loss to the West Tigers, the Wyong boys were aiming to keep their winning streak intact.
Within the beginning stages of the game it was clear that it would be a gruelling forthcoming match, with both sides providing promising opening sets. Though it only took four minutes before the Belmore boys were able to break through the goal line defence, through a cut-out pass to Tautalatsi Tasi for first points.
The Blue and White wall held sturdy in defence and seemed unbreakable, but it would only take Yileen Gordon to prove otherwise, creating the opportunity for Brendan Elliot to reach out and cross, immediately hitting back and putting Wyong on the board. Though converting would prove to be quite the issue for Roos kicker Nathan Stapleton, who only kicked two from five throughout the afternoon. Nevertheless, Wyong would prove to press forth as Nene MacDonald scored for what would be his first of two tries alongside Brendan Elliot, who also scored a double for the Roos.
Though the real contest would present itself in the front row, with huge hit-ups forcing plenty of errors. Bulldogs second rower Adam Elliot displayed an incredible man of the match performance, through not only scoring a try right on half time, but also establishing an enormous presence in both defence and attack throughout the duration of the game.
The frustration for Wyong was appearing to be quite evident as they used every trick in the book through their halves pairing of Brock Molan and Tyler Cornish, but nothing was to prove more successful for the boys than attacking on the left hand edge, where the majority of Wyong’s points would be made. The continuous end to end football during the second half proved exhausting for Wyong, with penalties being given away through ill-discipline. Though the Roos forward strength would be their saviour, as Leiucha Pulu stormed through Canterbury’s goal line defence shrugging off two defenders before crashing over.
Some terrific ball work by the Bulldogs forward pack enabled them to keep their sets alive, while a penalty given right in front of Canterbury’s goal line through a deliberate interference from a Wyong player gave them an extended lead 15 minutes from full time. Though the home side proved they were not done yet, as Shaun Lane’s attack down the right side edge would see him cross for a double before putting centre Lindon McInally over shortly after.
A short kick off by Wyong allowed them to regather procession and run in two late tries to Macdonald and Elliot. Though with another missed conversion by Stapleton which was desperately needed to close the gap. However, the Bulldogs held firm to claim a 10-pont win.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 34 (S Lane 2, T Tasi, L Dodd, J McInally, A Elliot tries; L McGrady 5 goals) bt Wyong Roos 24 (B Elliot 2, N MacDonald 2, L Pulu tries; N Stapleton 2 goals)
